Concentration of ores.



HENRY LAVERS, O1? CAMBERYVELL, HENRY HOVV'IARD GELEL'ENW'AY, F AND ALF%ED HENRY PIPER- LOW'RY, OF PZtAIaTlStAiil', VIGZI'GRIA,

ASSIGNOIt-S TO MINERALS SEPARATION AMEIEtICl-hlfil' SYHBECATE {1913) LEM".

LGNDON, ENGLAND.

{11.1) do An Ju- CONCENTRATIQII 03? DRESS.

(aluminum-hm specification ct Letters Patent.

Iiiataan No Drawing". Original application filed March 14, 1914, Serial No. $2 1,765. fl 'ivided. and this application filed September 14, 1916. Serial 1%. 1530,6521.

To all vi /m it may concern.

Be it known that we, HENRY LAvnns, l-lsxnr HOWARD GiuannwAY, and ALFRED llnxm' Pirna Lower, subjects of the King of (treat lilritain and Ireland, and respectively residing at (lamberwell, Melbourne, and Prahran, all in the .3 ate of Victoria, Commonwealth of Australia, have invented certain new and useful lin 'n'ovelnents in Concentration of Ores, of which. the follow ing' is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in the concentration of ores by flotation, and this application is a division of our application filed March '14, 191%, Serial Number 82%,765.

in this specification the term ores is intended to include concentrates, tailings,

slimes and other products containing metalliierous infncral.

This invention relates to the concentration of ores by the agitation froth process,- in which a. froth of inetalliiierous mineral is floated to the surface of an ore pulp consequent upon the aeration and agitation of the ulp.

Hitherto froth llotationseparation has been conducted with the employment of an oily frothing agent such as is described, in Patent No. 835,120 01": November 6, 1906, to Sulinan, Picard and Ballot and in Patent No. 1,064,723 of June 17, 1913, to Greenway and Larers, or with a. soluble frothing agent such as is described in Patent No. 9(2,678 of June 28, 1910, to Sullnan, Greenway and Higgins, the frothing agents disclosed in the last mentioned patent being of. an organic nature and largely acid in character. A mineral acid such as sulfuric acid has been used in addition to the frothing agent, acting in some manner not clearly understood 'toniodity the qualities of the liquid and to assist the flotation of the metalli't'erous inincal and to retard or prevent flotation oi the gangue. In some instances and with certain procedures it has been found not necessary to use a mineral acid. it has also been found that in some instances and under certain conditions an alkaline selectivitynuxliiying agent is ot assistance when used with a not ng agent in t p eferenti l flotation-separation oi certain sulfide from other sullids, but so far as We are aware froth liotation-separation has not been elf iected by the use in solution of an alkaline substance Without the addition of a. mineralfrothing agent, and the function of main tained alkalinity in the ore pulp has been to assist a iirothing; agent in froth flotation.

Vi e have discovered that it the agitation froth process be carried on in an ore pulp containing in solution an alkaline substance, such as carbonate of soda, and without the addition of any frothing agent other than the said alkaline substance, a froth of the metalli'ferous mineral will rise to the surface and may be floated off or otherwise and separated from the gangue which remains in the pulp. This separation is preferably effected at a teln 'ierature in the neighborhood of 130 l ahii'.

lhe following is an example o1 our new process: Two lbs. of Broken Hill shines were mixed with 7 lbs. Water at 130 iii, and soda ash equal to 22.4 lbs. per ton of the slinies. The mixture was then thoroughly aerated by being; agitated, with the result that a. mixed concentrate assaying; 29.% lead. 35.2% Zinc, 9.5.0 ozs. per ton silver was produced, giving recoveries of 90.0% lead, 92.7 zinc, and 91.5 silver.

if desired the resultant products may be retreated with or without the addition of fresh quantities at the alkaline substance, or by any other process, such as, for ezc ample, with the addition of oily or fanic or other trothing agents.

The concentrates obtained by this invention from ores containing mixed inetailiten ous minerals are found to be in a most suitable condition for preferential flotationseparation of one of the nietaliiterous mire .erals from other or others of the metalliteninost suitable- :tor add1t1on to the ore pulp are the ous minerals. The alkaline substances carbonates of the alkaline metals, but other alltalis may be used. We preicr in most cascs a crude sodium carbonate or soda .a-si.

In the a mlication oi this invention with various ores and under various conditions, the example oi? the process above des may be modifies. Without departing, i

thisinvention, the conditions best adapted for any particular ore'being determinable by tests as Well known in this art.

"We claim:

- 1. A process of concentrating ores'which consists in agitating and aerating an orc pulp containing in solution an alkaline substance, but Without the addition of a frothing agentother than the said alkaline substance, so as to obtain a froth of concentrates, and separating the -it'roth.

2. A process of concentrating ores which consists in agitating and; aerating an ore tion, but withoutthe addition of a frothing pulp containing in solutiein a salt of a mineral. acid having an elksiine recetion,-but without the addition of a frothing agent other than said salt, so as to obtain a froth of concentrates, and separatingthe' froth.

3. process of concentrating ores which cons1sts 1n agitatm and acratingan ore pulp containing sodium carbonate in soluagent other than said soiiium carbonate, so as to obtain a froth of concentretes and separating the froth. I v 4. A process of concentrating ores which consists in agitating and aerating a heated ore pulp containing in solution an alkaline substance, but Without the addition of a frothin'g agent other than the said alkaline suhstanee,-so as to obtain a froth of concentratesfand separating the froth.

5. A process of concentrating ores which H consists in agitating and aerating a heated orepulp containing in solution a salt of a,

mineral acid having an alkaline reaction, but Without the addition of a frothmg agent other than said salt, so as to obtain a froth of concentrates, and separating the froth.

Witnesses own, A. HACK, Ji R. CULLEN.

In, testimony whereof I, ALFRED HENRY PIPER Lower, have my signature in presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

. ALFRED HENLEY PIPER, iiilwliti" Witnesses:

An'rnnn Gonn Common, FLonENon lViZAu'rHonrn. 

